Sh*t I Just Quit My Job

Hosted by Maricella Herrera

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Jun 2026

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Sh*I Just Quit My Job is a podcast about the questions that surface when life stops making sense: Is this it? What do I really want? Who am I if I’m not defined by my work, my old story, or other people’s expectations of me? Through candid conversations and personal reflections, host Maricella Herrera sits with the uncertainty and explores what it takes to build a life that feels more honest, joyful, and real.

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June 10, 202655 min

Moments, Not Years

What does it take to start choosing your life instead of just pushing through it?In this episode I talk with Ariela Picciotto — one of my closest friends — about a path that never really went to plan. She left New York years ago to be closer to the people she loves, traded a planned move to London for an unplanned life in Paris, and eventually followed her curiosity out of the corporate world and into coaching.There was a breaking point along the way: the day she got the offer she'd been chasing, her body finally gave out and she landed in the ER. We talk about what that taught her — about finite time, the choices we make with it, thinking about life in seasons, and what happens when you stop measuring your years and start measuring your moments.About Ariela Picciotto:Ariela Picciotto is a leadership and career coach with 15 years of GTM leadership experience mostly in tech scale-ups, including as General Manager at ClassPass, where she launched and scaled France and Southern Europe into one of the top five markets globally.After building a career that looked impressive on paper, she found herself asking: I built this, I chose it, so why does it no longer feel like me? Those are the questions her clients carry too, and the ones she now helps them answer.She works with senior women in tech who have built successful careers and yet feel unfulfilled, stuck, or quietly wondering if this is still it. Through coaching that combines strategic career thinking with embodied leadership and inner authority, she helps them get clear on who they are becoming so their next move actually fits.She holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Certificate in Professional Coaching from New Ventures West, and coaches in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.Connect with Ariela:Website: https://www.arielapicciotto.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielapicciotto/Connect with me:quitmyjobpod@gmail.comInstagram: @quitmyjobpodSubstack: https://maricellaherrera.substack.com/Show Notes:00:00 Offer Day ER Wakeup00:10 Podcast Premise Intro00:52 Behind on Episodes03:24 Meet Ariella06:26 Childhood Dream Jobs07:08 Choosing Business Path09:40 Consulting Reality Check11:22 Ballet Studio Role14:34 Leaving New York17:32 Family Time Math20:13 ClassPass Breakthrough23:22 Burnout and Reorg25:30 Getting a Coach26:41 Stress Sends Her to ER27:52 Healing Before Day One29:02 Why Coaching Called Her33:26 Coaching as a Business35:31 Rejecting Hustle Culture38:44 Going All In on Coaching41:29 Redefining Success48:55 Balancing Ambition and Play53:13 Advice to Her Past Self

May 18, 20261 hr 12 min

Slightly Scandalous, Completely Badass

Michelle Stanek has been dancing since she was four years old. She drew a ballerina in a second-grade coloring assignment when they asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Decades later, she is a professional pole artist, world-touring performer, national champion, and now — inventor.The path there was anything but straight. A toxic dance director who made her cry in the car at 16. A grad degree in art history. A job she loved and lost in the 2009 economy. A random Tuesday afternoon pole class a coworker dragged her to. And then — millions of views, workshops in Japan, Russia, Australia, Iceland, and a competition performance in 2012 that people still show their moms and aunts when they want to explain what pole dancing actually is.In this conversation we get into what it really takes to make art your career (hint: the "find something you love and it never feels like work" line is, in her words, bullshit). We talk about teaching philosophy, neuroplasticity, going deeper instead of harder, and the difference between being a sellout and just trying to pay your rent. We also talk about the Stanek Spinner — the pole accessory she's been prototyping and bringing to market — and what it means to make a physical art form accessible to more bodies.Michelle is one of those people who makes you think and laugh at the same time. This one runs long because I couldn't bring myself to cut it.About Michelle Stanek:Michelle Stanek is a NYC-based pole dancer, boy mom, part-time art fair producer, and newly-self-appointed entrepreneur whose motto is "I'll figure it out."Connect with Michelle:Instagram: @michellestanek2012 USPDF performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ih2yztRNTFgMichelle on the Stanek Spinner at Pole Theatre Canada June 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPwq1-pdA38Connect with me:quitmyjobpod@gmail.comInstagram: @quitmyjobpodSubstack: https://maricellaherrera.substack.com/Show Notes:00:00 - Work You Love Myth 00:23 - Show Mission Intro 00:54 - Life Updates and Substack 03:02 - Editing vs AI Debate 05:46 - Meet Michelle Stanek 09:34 - Childhood Dance Dreams 10:35 - Quitting Ballet at 16 14:05 - College and Real Job Track 16:11 - First Pole Class Spark 18:29 - Layoff to Pole Career 21:55 - Gig Economy and Income Streams 25:47 - Pole Grit and Empowerment 28:18 - Competing and Going Viral 32:02 - Why That Performance Hit 34:24 - Imposter Syndrome After Winning 37:43 - Cancer Fueled Mantra 38:56 - Winning Then World Tours 40:36 - Art Business Not Sport 41:41 - Aging And Sustainable Income 43:08 - Money Passion And Pressure 49:13 - Beyond Basic Teaching 52:07 - Building Self Directed Students 57:24 - Inventing The Spinner Platform 01:03:57 - Prototypes Patents And Process 01:05:46 - Daily Progress Mindset 01:10:01 - Advice To Younger Self 01:11:47 - Closing

May 1, 202652 min

You Know Your Values, Now What?

Alana Winter spent 25 years building a national video distribution business before realizing she'd built something successful without ever asking herself what she actually valued. In this episode, Alana and Maricella talk about being raised by a serial entrepreneur dad who taught her to control her destiny, the moment the business became a grind and she didn't know who she was without it, and the three-year process of figuring out her own core values, and how she helps leaders do the same in a much shorter time frame. They get into the difference between needs, values, and your why (and why most people confuse all three), what she means by "the how matters less than the what," and her story about the bathroom attendant at the Beacon Theater that made me tear up.About Alana Winter:Alana Winter is an executive coach, facilitator, and serial entrepreneur who helps leaders navigate the moments when outward success no longer matches their inner truth.After building and running businesses for more than 25 years, including a nationwide video distribution company and the internationally covered Stiletto Spy School and MI6 Academy, Alana found herself in the disorienting space that comes after a major chapter ends. That experience led her into a deep exploration of identity, core values, and what it really means to build a life and business from the inside out.Today, Alana works with founders, CEOs, executive teams, and leadership groups around the world, helping them clarify their values, communicate more honestly, make better decisions, and lead with greater self-awareness. Her work blends psychology, lived entrepreneurial experience, and a highly intuitive ability to see the patterns beneath the surface.She holds a B.A. in psychology from Wesleyan University and has worked with thousands of leaders through EO, YPO, WPO, Chief, and private executive coaching engagements. Her work has been featured by NPR, The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, Psychology Today, and other major media outlets.Show Notes:(00:00) - Nothing To Do Identity(00:21) - Show Intro And Premise(00:52) - Purpose Values Episode Setup(02:05) - Meet Alana Winter(04:54) - Childhood Dreams Icebreaker(06:19) - Raised To Be Entrepreneur(07:37) - Building Video Distribution(13:10) - Meaning Fades Business Grind(16:16) - Betrayal And Embezzlement(23:09) - Burnout Signs And Body(25:57) - After the Exit Void(28:09) - Meaning Over Opportunity(30:33) - Purpose Work for Kids(33:34) - Three Year Values Quest(38:15) - Values Needs Why Framework(44:20) - Living Values Anywhere(47:16) - Clarity Becomes a Calling(50:06) - Advice for the Goo Phase(52:18) - Podcast Closing

April 9, 202628 min

The Proof Is in the Pictures

What if figuring out who you want to be doesn't start with imagining your future self — it starts with looking at your past one? In this minisode, Maricella walks through a deceptively simple exercise: scrolling through last year's photos to find the one where you look exactly how you want to feel. What she found was more layered, and more useful, than she expected.From a trip to Greece to a random Tuesday alone in her apartment, this episode gets into how the feeling behind a photo, the memory it holds, and the moment you're in right now are three completely different things. Plus what nostalgia actually is scientifically, why play keeps showing up as the answer, and how to use your past self as an emotional anchor for the person you're becoming.Show Notes:(00:00) Intro(00:38) No Resolutions (01:42) Why Feelings Make For Bad Goals(03:03) Future Self and Manifesting (06:02) The Photos Exercise(07:57) Three Layers in Every Photo (09:54) Greece Trip and Disconnection (12:38) Cat Costume Joy and Buckets (15:22) Oven Broke but I Persisted (18:40) The Through Line Is Play (21:37) Nostalgia and Self Continuity (24:59) Closing the Gap to Future You (26:47) Try It and Final Goodbye (27:59) Outro Subscribe and ConnectTakeaways:Go through your photos from the past year and find the one where you look exactly how you want to feel. How you feel right now looking at it is data too.Every photo has three layers: how you look in it, how you feel seeing it now, and how you felt when it was taken. They're not always the same thing.Play isn't just about fun. The moments that light you up are telling you something about what you need more of.Nostalgia isn't only backward-looking. Research suggests it's your brain connecting past you to present you in order to push you toward future you.You don't have to picture an abstract future self. Start with a real past feeling and use it as the anchor.Links:Em on the Brain (Emily McDonald) — Planet Em podcast on Spotify / Apple PodcastsEmily McDonald on What Now? with Trevor Noah — "Can You Rewire Your Brain?"What a Broken Oven Taught Me About Myself — SubstackFind Maricella:Substack: https://maricellaherrera.substack.com/Instagram: @quitmyjobpodquitmyjobpod.com

March 26, 202659 min

The Spiritual Abolitionist

Host Maricella Herrera introduces a nurturing, candid conversation with Kvon Tucker, CEO and founder of Consciously, a purpose-driven coaching and consulting firm. They discuss fear, courage, and “spiritual abolitionism,” which Kvon defines as helping people release narratives and conditioning that keep them stuck and move toward liberation. Kvon shares his path from studying psychology and workplace behavior to leadership development roles at Netflix, Amazon, and Google. While at Google, he built a coaching practice during the pandemic and new fatherhood, but fear kept him from leaving his full time role. An internal investigation into his online activity and perceived integrity became a breaking point, and he quit on his daughter’s first birthday, later moving toward Costa Rica. Kvon has a vision of helping leaders escape limiting corporate structures. About Kvon Tucker:Kvon Tucker is the CEO and Founder of Consciously, a purpose-driven coaching and consulting firm helping leaders grow with clarity, freedom, and purpose. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with nearly 20 years of experience in leadership development, Kvon has coached and developed executives at companies like Netflix, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Tesla. His mission is simple: all I know is how to help people grow.www.consciously.oneShow Notes:(00:00) Teaser + Intro(00:52) Welcome to the Episode(03:25) Meet Kvon Tucker (05:17) Childhood Dreams (07:16) Spiritual Abolitionist (09:18) Fear and Courage Practice (12:43) Fearlessness vs Recklessness (15:44) How He Got Into Tech (17:06) From Depression to Purpose (24:46) Netflix Amazon and Ego (29:29) Google Exit Reflections (32:39) Coaching Origins And Certification (34:11) Pandemic Dad And Coaching Boom (37:05) Fear Of Leaving Corporate (39:26) Investigation And Breaking Point (41:37) Quitting And Moving To Costa Rica (44:41) Support Systems Through Crisis (48:27) Underground Railroad For Leaders (51:34) AI And Identity Beyond Work (55:25) Finding Clarity What Do You Want (57:00) Advice To Past Self And Closing

March 12, 202658 min

What If Your Superpower Is the Obvious Thing?

Dr. Sofia Pertuz spent 25 years in higher education before realizing the skills she'd been using her entire career — coaching, training, building systems, facilitating hard conversations — were exactly what she should be doing on her own. In this episode, Sofia and I talk about the long road from resident assistant to associate VP and dean of students, the burnout she didn't have a name for, pivoting through the nonprofit world and Billie Jean King Enterprises, and what it finally took to bet on herself. Plus, she's revealing something publicly for the first time on this show.We dig into why the things that come most naturally to us are often the last things we recognize as valuable — and what happens when you finally flip that switch.About Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz:Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz is a certified executive coach, consultant, and workplace culture strategist who partners with leaders and mission-driven organizations to strengthen culture, performance, and leadership capacity. As Founder of Mainstream Insight, she designs executive coaching engagements, leadership development programs, and team retreats grounded in values alignment and organizational growth. Sofia’s career spans senior leadership roles at Billie Jean King Enterprises, The Jed Foundation, and Hofstra University, where she advanced leadership pathways, workforce engagement, and organizational resilience. A bilingual facilitator and international speaker, Sofia leads transformative conversations on leadership, cultural identity, organizational change, and LGBTQ+ advocacy in both English and Spanish. She holds a PhD from Seton Hall University, serves on nonprofit boards, and is certified as an ICF Professional Certified Coach, Certified Diversity Executive®, and certified practitioner of Intercultural Development Inventory ®, Everything DiSC® and CliftonStrengths®.https://www.linkedin.com/in/sofiabautistapertuz/https://www.instagram.com/sofiabpertuzphdShow Notes:(00:00) Teaser + Intro (05:00) What Sofia wanted to be growing up — and the secret audition her mom never knew about (10:00) How a raffle ticket explains the curse of competence (14:00) 25 years in higher ed — from RA at 22 to associate VP and dean of students (17:00) The weight of life-and-death decisions on campus (21:00) Getting recruited out of academia and discovering what freedom feels like (24:00) The standup comedy class — and why trying something totally new matters (27:00) From Jed Foundation to Billie Jean King Enterprises (34:00) Seeing the DEI backlash coming — and pivoting early (39:00) The moment she decided to bet on herself (42:00) Quitting, grief, and why she wasn't ready to talk about it until now (45:00) A first-time public announcement: Sofia wrote a book (49:00) The change implementation model she keeps coming back to in coaching (54:00) Earning your freedom with discipline (56:00) Her mom, Avon, Tupperware — and why "hustle" isn't the right word

February 26, 202636 min

Calling Bullshit on Joy

Alysa Liu's gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics has everyone talking about joy — about following your bliss, about how the universe rewards you when you stop chasing the outcome. Maricella watched it and felt something more complicated.In this minisode, she uses three figure skaters to explore what it actually looks like to perform for yourself versus performing for something external. Alysa Liu, whose comeback is being held up as proof that joy is enough. Amber Glenn, who moved from 13th to 5th after years of publicly battling anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation — and who still couldn't fully escape the pressure. And Ilia Malinin, the "Quad God" with 14 consecutive wins going in, who still got in his head.What does it really mean to do something for joy? Is Alysa's story as simple as we're making it? And why is Amber Glenn's comeback — the one that didn't end in a medal — somehow the most moving thing Maricella watched all week?If you've ever wanted to believe the "just do what you love" story but found yourself not quite buying it, this one might help you figure out why.Topics: Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, Ilia Malinin, Winter Olympics 2026, figure skating, joy vs. outcome, mental health, comparison, burnout, career, imposter syndrome

February 12, 202659 min

The More Unhinged, The Better

In this episode of 'Sh*t I Just Quit My Job,' host Maricella Herrera dives into a candid conversation with Megan Senese, a legal marketing and business development expert who co-founded the company Stage. Maricella and Megan discuss the challenges of navigating career shifts, dealing with corporate burnout, and the importance of authenticity in business. They explore Megan's transition from the corporate legal world to entrepreneurship, the strategies she used to build her business from the ground up, and the vital role of relationship building in professional success. Megan also shares valuable insights on personal branding, navigating layoffs, and the significance of doing things differently in a crowded market. The episode ends with Megan's advice to her younger self: just hold on, it will be over soon.About Megan Senese:Megan Senese is a legal marketing and business-development entrepreneur and co-founder of Stage, where she helps lawyers grow their practices through authentic relationship-building and strategy. She is especially admired for her ability to bring empathy and genuine human connection into an industry often driven purely by numbers.Show Notes00:00 Podcast Introduction04:30 Childhood Dreams vs. Reality21:06 The Big Quit23:36 Pandemic Burnout and the 2% Raise32:25 Unlearning Corporate Toxicity35:47 The Leap to Entrepreneurship42:04 The Thousand Meetings Strategy49:23 Business Development Advice51:21 Going Unhinged on LinkedIn55:06 The So Much to Say Podcast58:43 Final Advice: Hold OnTakeaways:The podcast delves into the complexities of personal reinvention, particularly after quitting a job that was once deemed defining.Listeners are encouraged to embrace the chaotic journey of self-discovery and the uncertainties therein, recognizing that it is a universal experience.A significant theme discussed is the importance of authenticity in business, suggesting that one can still be themselves while building a successful enterprise.The speakers emphasize the necessity of building genuine relationships and connections rather than relying solely on traditional networking methods.The conversation highlights the emotional and psychological challenges faced during career transitions, particularly in acknowledging and navigating grief associated with leaving a familiar job.Insights are shared on the evolution of personal branding and visibility in a digital age, stressing the need for uniqueness in content to stand out.

January 29, 202654 min

You Need a Little Crazy

In this conversation, Denis Keane shares his journey from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way. He discusses his experiences in the nightlife and restaurant industries, the importance of people skills, and the role of adaptability in navigating the ever-changing landscape of startups and technology. Denis emphasizes the need for risk-taking and the value of understanding business fundamentals, while also reflecting on personal growth and self-worth.Show NotesThis episode presents a profound exploration of career transitions, personal growth, and the entrepreneurial spirit through the lenses of Maricela Herrera and her guest, Denis Keane. The narrative begins with Maricella's honest reflection on her struggles with motivation and the emotional toll of returning to her routine after a significant hiatus. Her vulnerability lays the groundwork for a rich discussion with Denis, whose dynamic background as an entrepreneur in the nightlife and technology sectors illustrates the multifaceted nature of career journeys. Denis recounts his experiences navigating the challenges of establishing a successful nightclub in a gentrifying neighborhood, offering insights into the importance of risk-taking and seizing opportunities. The conversation further delves into the lessons learned from both industries, emphasizing the value of people skills and the necessity of adaptability in the face of uncertainty. As the episode unfolds, listeners are invited to reconsider their definitions of success and the paths they choose, ultimately reinforcing the idea that both personal and professional growth often emerge from embracing chaos and uncertainty. GLbkdq5KTbiTButeRXLMTakeaways:In the podcast episode, Dennis Keane discusses the necessity of adaptability in business, emphasizing that the ability to pivot is crucial for success in rapidly changing environments.A significant theme addressed in the interview is the importance of understanding financial metrics, which is essential for running any business effectively, including restaurants and startups.Dennis highlights that personal connections and people skills are indispensable, as they enhance communication and foster a productive workplace culture in both the restaurant and tech industries.The conversation reveals that fear of failure often inhibits individuals from pursuing their passions, and Dennis advocates for embracing risk as an integral part of the entrepreneurial journey.Dennis's journey illustrates how experiences in the restaurant industry can provide transferable skills that are extremely beneficial in the tech startup world, particularly in managing teams and understanding customer dynamics.The episode also touches upon the evolving role of AI in business, suggesting that those who adapt and learn to leverage technology will thrive, while those who resist will likely fall behind.About Denis Keane:Denis Keane is an entrepreneur and investor who has founded multiple businesses, backed early-stage startups, and advised companies on growth and business development. Most recently, he served as COO and investor in an AI startup that successfully exited through acquisition. Denis now works with founders and leadership teams to help scale operations and unlock new growth opportunities.

December 12, 202543 min

Stronger Than You Think

Two weeks before the Chicago Marathon, Maricella was terrified. Not just about the race—about what it would mean if she finished and felt destroyed, ashamed of her pace, not wanting to run again.In this deeply personal episode, she shares what it's like to show up to something hard while feeling like a fraud. She reads her raw journal entries about training anxiety, works through shame about being "too slow," and tells the story of race day—including the sign that changed everything.This isn't a story about hitting a time goal (she didn't). It's about discovering you're stronger than you thought. About the tools and reminders we need when we forget we're capable. About hope, shame, and doing hard things scared.Maricella shares a tattoo on her leg that says "Braver, Stronger, Smarter"—from Winnie the Pooh, gotten after the hardest moments of her life. She talks about the bracelets she wore during the race, her partner who believed in her when she didn't believe in herself, and what it means to find your strength not in the outcome, but in showing up.This is the final episode of 2025.In this episode:- Pre-race anxiety and the bonking pattern during training- Working through shame about pace and performance- Reading unfiltered journal entries from two weeks before the race- The difference between facts and fears- Hope as fuel vs. tying self-worth to outcomes- Race day: the sign, the nausea, the finish- Feeling strong instead of destroyed- The anchors we carry (bracelets, tattoos, people)- Feeling like a fraud even after accomplishing hard things- Using tools (therapy, journaling, friends, AI) to see clearly- Showing up scared and doing it anywayMentioned in this episode:Win the Inside Game by Steve MagnessSAFE methodology (created by guest Jaqueline Oliveira-Cella) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maricellaherrera.substack.com